11.202 Gateway: Planning Economics, Fall 2002

Abstract

Introduces applications of microeconomic theory to planning problems including urban form and structure, environmental controls, zoning and property rights, and income inequality and poverty. From the course home page: Course Description Planning Economics (11.202) is a course that runs for the last one-third of a semester and covers economics topics of particular interest to city planning students: location theory, the interplay between externalities and zoning, international trade and globalization, and housing finance. Few incoming students have had prior exposure to these topics. The first two-thirds of the semester is given over to Microeconomics (11.203). It is designed for incoming city planning students with little or no economics background. Incoming students take a voluntary microeconomics test-out at the beginning of the semester. Those that pass the test-out are exempt from taking Microeconomics. To minimize disruption, Planning Economics is positioned as the last third of a semester long core course on Planning Institutions and Economics. All students are required to take this final segment of the semester, including students who have tested out of microeconomics. From the course home page: Course Description Planning Economics, 11.202, explores applications of microeconomics to four topics of interest to planners: Public Good and Externality Theory in Practice; Location Theory and the Economic Rationale of Cities; Globalization, Trade and Labor Standards; Investment Theory and Housing Finance